Are caregiving and parenting the same? Caregiving is the activity or profession of taking care of one who is sick or disabled. A parent is one who brings up and cares for another. As the mother of two sons with hemophilia, I believe that caregiving and parenting are not…
Hemophilia 24/7
— Cazandra Campos-MacDonald
Rev. Cazandra Campos-MacDonald is a pastor, author, motivational speaker, and encourager. She lives in New Mexico with her husband, Rev. Dr. Joe MacDonald, and youngest son, Caeleb. Their adult son, Julian, is living the bohemian life of a starving artist and goes wherever there is an audition. Her sons live with severe hemophilia A and inhibitors. Her older brother died shortly after birth due to complications from hemophilia. Cazandra writes candidly of raising two sons with a rare bleeding disorder. She believes storytelling is about redeeming the journey and connecting with others.
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As a hospice chaplain, I meet people during the hardest moments of their lives. Whether at a deathbed or in a funeral home preparing for a service, these are times of finality. Grief brings people together as they share their loss and honor the person who has died. A recent…
There was a time when hemophilia ruled my family’s every waking moment. My husband and I set out to accomplish two goals each day: going to work and taking care of our youngest son, Caeleb. It was nice when Caeleb could go to school for an entire day, but…
My 15-year-old son, Caeleb, is looking for a summer job. We live in a small town, so his choices are limited, and many jobs require applicants to be at least 16. Part of me hopes he waits until next summer to find a job, but he is actively looking. The…
Sometimes a person must learn a lesson the hard way before making changes in their life. My youngest son, Caeleb, is 15, and he is discovering some truths about his body. Due to extensive damage in his right knee and ankle from hemophilia, simple things such as running and…
People are required to earn a certification or license for numerous activities. To drive a vehicle, a person must secure a learner’s permit or driver’s license. To become a lifeguard, a person must go through training to earn a certification. Even working a part-time job in the food industry…
Doctors, nurses, hospitals, and clinics are simply part of life with a rare, chronic condition such as hemophilia. Many people in the bleeding disorders community learn early on that speaking up for themselves and their loved ones is crucial to their care. Over the years of raising two sons with…
Before cellphones, memorizing phone numbers was a necessity. Racing home to make a phone call on the landline was how I made plans with friends and scheduled appointments. With smartphones, I can make a call with the touch of a button, no matter where I am. Although I no longer…
I have guaranteed quality time with my youngest son, Caeleb, who is 15 and has hemophilia, every Sunday morning. He comes with me to the church where I serve as pastor, and he video records the service each week. Our commute is 40 minutes one way, and in that time…
Though the school year is nearly over for my youngest son, Caeleb, who is 15, he just returned to in-person learning for the first time since the pandemic began. Caeleb, who has hemophilia, is a high school freshman and a new student to the school district this…
As an expectant mother, I dreamed about my son’s future. I imagined the sound of his voice, the daily rituals we would create together, and the way I’d simply hold and love him with every part of my being. When my first son, Julian, came into the world, my…
My youngest son, Caeleb, became best friends with a girl named Taylor in sixth grade. Then, our family moved away to Texas, but returned to New Mexico two years later. Caeleb and Taylor now live an hour apart. Despite it all, they have remained close. It is remarkable for a…
March is Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month. It is a time when organizations such as the National Hemophilia Foundation and the Hemophilia Federation of America encourage the community to share their stories about life with a bleeding disorder. Many use social media to spread awareness by posting…
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